Vending machine having a package anti-jamming assembly



Nov. 5, 1968 J. w. TUTT ET AL 3, 3

VENDING MACHINE HAVING A PACKAGE ANTI-JAMMING ASSEMBLY Original Filed Aug. 18, 1967 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Nov. 5, 1968- 1 J. w. TUTT ET AL 3,409,108

- VENDING MACHINE HAVING A PACKAGE ANTI-JAMMING ASSEMBLY Original Filed Aug. 18. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 071mm? Z/ aff TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,409,108 VENDING MACHINE HAVING A PACKAGE ANTI-JAMMING ASSEMBLY Jimmie W. Tutt and Walton G. Tutt, Abilene, Tex., as-

siguors of one-fifth interest to Bob L. Todd, Abilene, Tex.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 661,612, Aug. 18, 1967. This application Sept. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 665,411

Claims. (Cl. 194-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Following is disclosed a cross bar positioned in front of the openings in a tray arrangement of a vending machine and supported by a pivotable arm. The cross bar engages the end of and helps support a package being discharged by a delivery mechanism from one opening until the package is substantially half Way expelled from the tray arrangement. Then the cross bar rides over the upper corner of the package and onto its top surface to forcefully deflect the package downward into a delivery chute, effectively preventing jamming of the package between the tray arrangement and the delivery mechanism. Additionally, a long actuation lever which eliminates tedious adjustments extends between the cross bar and a switch means to control an otherwise conventional coin return apparatus.

Cross reference to related application This application is a continuation of an application entitled, Vending Machine, Ser. No. 661,612, filed Aug. 18, 1967, now abandoned.

Background and general discussion Some vending machines, such as those used to vend cigarettes, utilize a tray arrangement having vertical slots which receive a column of cigarette packages. Since the packages have essentially uniform thicknesses, the lowermost package in each column may be expelled endwise through an opening in a lower region of a wall of the tray arrangement. The opening is generally sized such that it retains all except the lowermost package, which may therefore be individually discharged by a delivery mechanism which reciprocates in a manner to eject only one package at a time through the opening.

Commonly, a deflection plate extends from the exterior of the tray arrangement in oblique fashion in front of the opening to deflect a discharged package downward into a delivery chute. Such deflection is usually essential owing to the space limitations in the machines; and otherwise, the package might become jammed on the structure opposite the opening in the tray arrangement. Even when utilizing such deflection plates, however, a package occasionally jams between the Wall surrounding the opening and the end of the delivery mechanism, necessitating a time consuming and expensive service call.

It is accordingly our purpose to provide apparatus that may be utilized on vending machines of generally the above described type to prevent jamming of the package being delivered, with resultant savings in service time and expense. v

Moreover, vending machines of generally the above described type must have means for returning an inserted coin in the event the selected brand is sold out, or in the event of apparatus malfunction. Frequently, a switch in a coin return circuit is actuated by the delivery mechanism when it discharges a package, thus routing a coin to a coin receiving bank and away from the coin return slot. Proper adjustment of the contact points in the switch means may be tedious, making proper operation of the switch and coin handling mechanism less likely.

It is therefore another one of our purposes to provide a switch means utilizing an actuation mechanism which minimizes the problem of initial installation and adjustment, thereby more fully insuring that the switch, control circuit, and coin control apparatus function in a fail-safe manner.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine (shown principally in phantom) having its tray arrangement modified to include a cross bar, sometimes referred to as a sensing and deflection bar, combined therewith in accordance with the principles of our invention; FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in fragmentary longitudinal section of the tray arrangement, delivery mechanism and cross bar of the machine of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the cross bar of FIG. 1, an electrical switch means, and actuation lever constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention; FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram containing the switch means of FIG. 3 for utilization as a portion of the coin handling system; and FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary side elevation views, with portions of FIG. 5 shown in longitudinal section, of alternate forms of our invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 11 designates a vending machine which includes an enclosed tray arrangement 13. The tray arrangement has a plurality of vertically disposed side walls 15 transversely secured to a back wall 17. Along the forward edge of each wall is a guide or fore wall 19 used to help confine a vertical column of packages in each vertical slot par tially defined by the above vertical, back and side walls. The guide walls 19 have a width to form a vertical opening for each cubicle of the tray arrangement. A deflec tion plate 21 extends in oblique fashion from the exterior and lower region of the tray arrangement in front of a lower region of the vertical openings. The deflection plate 21 deflects a discharged package downward into a delivery chute (not shown) where it may be obtained by a customer. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the deflection plate may be secured to a pedestal structure 23 by fasteners 25, the pedestal structure defining an opening A that extends the full distance across the vertical side walls 15 in front of each lowermost package. Opening A has a height slightly less (one-eighth inch for example) than the combined height of a package when lying on its side and the delivery mechanism 27 illustrated in FIG. 2. The deflection plate has been utilized previously and is not a novel individual element of our invention.

At the bottom of each vertical slot is the reciprocable delivery mechanism 27 which may be moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 such that the lowermost package falls to surface 29 at the bottom of the tray arrangement. Thereafter, the delivery mechanism 27 may be urged to the right, forcing the lowermost package from the opening A. The height B of the delivery mechanism should be slightly less (one-eighth inch for example) than the height of each package to insure that only the lowermost package is discharged from the opening when the delivery mechanism moves to the right.

The cross bar 30 is secured to two arms 31 and 33, each of which is pivotally secured to a respective hinge bracket 35, 37. The length of each arm 31, 33 and the position of each hinge bracket 35, 37 is such that the cross bar 30 initially engages a lower region of the end of each package being discharged from the opening A. As the package is moved to the right the cross bar 30 moves in an arc upward and when the package occupies the position indicated in phantom by the numeral 38, the cross bar may ride over the upper corner of the package and onto its top surface to forcefully deflect the package downward into a delivery chute (not shown). The force of the cross bar'30 prevents the package from falling into the delivery chute until the package is substantially over half way discharged through opening A. Preferably, the package is approximately seventy-five percent of the way discharged from opening A when the cross bar rides over the upper corner of the package. The package is deflected downward to insure it will not become jammed between the delivery mechanism and the structure 39 which opposes the opening A. Also, packages have in the past jammed between the delivery mechanism and the front wall 19 of the tray arrangement. If a package becomes obliquely oriented too quickly, the delivery mechanism will jam the trailing end portion of the package against the front wall 19 portion surrounding the opening A. But with the above described apparatus the deflection of each package is controlled to insure that the trailing end of the package does not become jammed. Further, the above apparatus insures that the forward end portion of each package does not become jammed against the structure 39.

For vending cigarette packages in a machine having eleven vertical slots of the type shown in FIG/1, apparatus as follows worked successfully: The cross bar 30 weighed seven ounces being inch in diameter and was twenty-eight inches long. Each arm was six inches long and weighed /2 ounce. The center of cross bar was elevated about one-quarter inch above the lower surface of the lowermost package prior to being discharged.

The electrical switch means 43 in FIG. 3 is a microswitch having an actuation lever 45 which extends forward from a position adjacent one side of the tray arrangement such that it rests on top the cross bar 30. The switch 43 is connected in series with a source of electric power such as the battery 46 in FIG. 4 and in series with a conventional coin return apparatus 47. If a selected vertical slot is empty such that the delivery mechanism 27 cannot urge a package forward against the cross bar 30 then the cross bar remains stationary as does the actuation lever 45, leaving the switch 43 unactuated. As a consequence, a deposited coin is directed to a coin return slot (not shown). If on the other hand the vertical column has at least one package which upon being discharged urges the cross bar outward and upward against the actuation lever 45, then the switch 43 is actuated to close the circuit and energize the coin return apparatus 47 to deflect the coin to a coin receiving bank and away from the coin return slot. The position of the switch 43 may be conveniently varied by removing and resetting the fasteners 48, 49, thus altering the position of the actuation lever 45. This simplifies the problem of adjusting contact points or utilizing other known techniques.

To summarize operation of the apparatus, a user =deposits a coin in the machine and selectively actuates the delivery mechanism 27 associated with a selected brand. The delivery mechanism moves to the left allowing the lowermost package to drop to surface 29. Then the delivery mechanism moves to the right such that the cross bar 30 engages the forward end of a package. The package moves outward until eventually it is approximately seventy-five percent discharged, at which time it engages deflection plate 21 while the cross bar 30 rides over the upper corner of the package to urge it downward toward a delivery chute. The actuation lever 45 is urged upward by the cross bar 30 prior to deflection of the package, closing an electrical circuit associated with a coin return apparatus to route the coin to a coin receiving bank. If the selected column is empty or if for some reason the package is not discharged far enough, the actuation lever 45 will not be moved upward far enough to close the above circuit. Hence, the coin will not be routed to the coin receiving bank, but rather, will be forwarded to the coin return slot.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided an invention having significant advantages. Jamming of packages is prevented by holding each package being discharged in a horizontal position through utilization of the cross bar 30 which prevents oblique package orientation until the trailing end of the package may without fail pass through the opening A. When this position is reached, the cross bar 30 moves over the upper corner of the package to forcefully deflect it downward and into a delivery chute. Thus the cooperative action of the cross bar and the package insures fail safe reliability during delivery. In addition, the utilization of a long actuation lever in combination with the switch means previously described enables accurate control over an otherwise conventional coin return apparatus. The position of the actuation levenmay be conveniently varied, eliminating necessity for accurate contact points or the like. Thus during initial installation or during subsequent routine maintenance, adjustment of the switch means becomes significantly simplified.

An alternate form of cross bar is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein the vertical sections 30, 32 of the arms 31, 33 are pivotally secured to hinge brackets 35, 37 similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3. The arms in this instance are, however, preferably portions of a metal, U-shaped band such that a lower region 51 extends horizontally across the front of the tray arrangement 13 and across the vertical sections 30, 32. The cross bar 53 has a horizontally extending upper region 55 secured to lower region 51 of the band by suitable means such as tack welds. Further, the cross bar 53 has a downwardly extending intermediate region 57 formed at an angle 8 relative to the vertical portions of the arms 31, 33 as seen in side elevation view (FIG. 5). Region 57 extends downward a distance X into intersection with a lower region 59 which forms an angle a with intermediate region 57.

A package 61 engages the intermediate region 57 of the cross bar which, due to its orientation and the force exerted against the end of the package, prevents the package from falling until discharged a selected distance from the tray arrangement. At the selected position the intermediate region of the cross bar travels over the top corner of the package to deflect it downward. Lower region 59 insures that the package continues to travel toward the delivery chute (not shown), while at the same time being far enough from the wall structure 63 supporting the tray arrangement to insure it does not trap the package.

The configuration of the cross bar shown in FIG. 5 may be used without the separate deflection plate 21 shown in FIG. 2 as may be the cross bar 30 of FIG. 2 when properly fashioned.

For vending cigarette packages in a machine of the type shown in FIG. 1, apparatus of the type shown in FIG. 5 and described as follows worked successfully: The length z of vertical sections 30, 32 of the arms 31, 33 and 3% inches, being formed of steel plate 41 inch thick and /2 inch wide. The lower region 51 extending across vertical sections 30, 32 of the arms was 27 inches wide. The cross bar 53 was formed of V32 inch thick steel plate also 27 inches wide. Its upper region 55 was /2 inch long; intermediate region 57 was 2% inches long; and lower region 59 was 2 /2 inches long. Angle ,6 was 168 degrees and angle or was 160 degrees.

An alternate electric switch actuation means is illustrated in FIG. 6, where the switch actuation lever 45 of electric switch 43 has a roller 65 on its outer end. The arms 31, 33 support a protrusion 67 that urges the roller 65 and actuation lever 45 down once the arms 31, 33 reach a selected angle. Consequently, the switch 43 is opened or closed to control coin travel as previously described with reference to the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 4.

While we have shown our invention in only a few of its forms it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The specific form of cross bar may be varied as may be the means for pivotally positioning it. The gravity system for supplying the cross bar deflection force is advantageous in eliminating the necessity for additional parts. However, it is within the scope of our invention to provide alternate biasing means to urge the cross bar against the end of a package being discharged. Moreover, the form and position of the cross bar supporting arms may be varied. The specific form of switch means may be varied as well as the geometry of the actuation lever, although a conventional microswitch arrangement adapted to receive the long actuation lever is considered most effective and advantageous at present. Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a vending machine having a tray arrangement for holding packages, and a delivery mechanism associated with the tray for expelling the lowermost package in a vertical column of packages through an opening in one wall of the tray arrangement, the improvement comprising an arm pivotally secured to said tray arrangement above the opening in said wall; a cross bar extending horizontally from said arm and being positioned to oppose the opening on the exterior of said tray arrangement to engage the end surface of a package being expelled; said arm having a length at least equal to the length of a package so that the cross bar is urged above the end onto the upper surface of a package being urged outward through the opening by said delivery mechanism when the package is substantially over half-way expelled.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1 in which a deflection plate carried by said tray arrangement extends outwardly above said opening to engage the end of the package when substantially over half-way expelled to urge the the cross bar onto the upper surface of the package.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 1 in which the cross bar rides the upper surface of said package when the package is substantially seventy-five percent expelled.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 3 in which a deflection plate carried by said tray arrangement extends outwardly above said opening to engage the end of the package when substantially over half-way expelled to urge the cross bar onto the upper surface of the package.

5. In a vending machine having a tray arrangement for holding packages and a delivery mechanism associated with'the tray for expelling the lowermost package in a vertical column of packages through an opening in one wall of the tray arrangement, the improvement comprising an arm pivotally secured to said tray arrangement above the opening in said Wall; a cross bar extending horizontally from said arm and being positioned to oppose the opening on the exterior of said tray arrangement; said arm having a length at least equal to the length of a package so that the cross bar is urged above the end onto the upper surface of a package being urged outward through the opening by said delivery mechanism when the package is substantially over half-way expelled; electric switch means carried by said tray arrangement; and an actuation lever extending from said switch means and engaging said cross bar to selectively open or close a coin return circuit when the cross bar moves responsive to package movement.

6. The apparatus defined by claim 5 in which a deflection plate carried by said tray arrangement extends outwardly above said opening to engage the end of the package when substantially over half-way expelled to urge the cross bar onto the upper surface of the package.

7. The apparatus defined by claim 5 in which the cross bar rides above the end and onto the upper surface of said package when the package is substantially seventyfive percent expelled.

8. The apparatus defined by claim 7 in which a deflection plate carried by said tray arrangement extends outwardly above said opening to engage the end of the package when substantially over half-way expelled to urge the cross bar onto the upper surface of the package.

S. In a vending machine having a tray arrangement for holding packages and a delivery mechanism associated with the tray for expelling the lowermost package in a vertical column of packages through an opening in one wall of the tray arrangement, the improvement comprising an arm secured to said tray arrangement adjacent the opening in said wall; a cross bar extending horizontally from said arm and being positioned to oppose the opening on the exterior of said tray arrangement; said arm and said cross bar having an overall length at least equal to the length of a package so that the portion of the cross bar engaging during operation the end of a package is urged above the end onto the upper surface of the package when substantially over half-way expelled to deflect the package downward.

10. The apparatus defined by claim 9 in which the cross bar rides above the end and onto the upper surface of said package when the package is substantially seventyfive percent expelled.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,741,978 12/1929 Courtney 194-10 1,883,712 10/1932 Grant 221-250 1,887,197 11/1932 Giles 221250 X 2,202,578 5/1940 Friemering 221268 2,551,425 5/1951 Drexel 221250 X 2,989,165 6/1961 Cozart 221129 X 3,132,732 5/1964 Robillard 221129 X WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner. 

